The state of African American political power in Tennessee

This Is Nashville · May 1, 2023 · 50m

For many outside of the state, the swift expulsions of state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson from the Tennessee General Assembly were a shocking display of power by the state’s Republican supermajority. But for longtime observers, this was a continuation of patterns that have persisted over recent decades, as African Americans in the state have seen their political influence diminished.

In this episode, we explore the shifting electoral and political landscape that has challenged African American political power in Tennessee, and what efforts are underway to reverse this trend.

But…